Antiskid chain



Aug. 11, 1931. LYNCH 1,818,919

ANTISKID CHAIN Filed Oct. 8, 1930,

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 JAMES LuLYNcn, or name, ILLINOIS ANTISKID CHAIN Application filed October 8, 1930. Serial No. 487,129.

This invention relates to anti-skid chains oifk the type used on automotive tires and the e. The salient objects of my invention are to provide a novel anti-skid chain which may be very expeditiously installed on a tire or removed therefrom; whichv may be readily adjusted to insure proper fitting thereof on the tire; and which will embody separable portions arranged in diametrical opposition on the peripheral portions of the chain.

In theselected embodiment of the invention, illustrated the accompanying drawig. 1 is a perspective view showing the first step in the installation of my novel chain on the tire of an automotive vehicle; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of'the second step in the installation of the chain on a tire;

Fig. 3 is aside elevationof a third step in the installation of the chain on a tire; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the chain as finally installed on a tire; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a connector used on the chain.

Anti-skid chains of the type-used prlor to my invention commonly embodied two parallel chainsxwhich when arran ed 111 position on a tire extended circum erentially therearound, and in addition to these'chains a plurality of cross chains were provided which extended between the first two chains and over the periphery of the tire. It has been customary to provide suitable connector elements at corresponding ends of the circumferential chains, which connector elements serve to retain the chain on a tire but the installation of chains so arranged has been rather difficult, and I have found that by providing an additional connecting element in one of the circumferential chains that the installation or removal of an anti skid chain from a tire may be greatly exediated. Thus, in the accompanying drawings I have shown an anti-skid chain comprisingcircumferential chains 6 and 7 and extending between these chains 6 and 7 as, for example, at uniformly spaced intervals, are cross chains 8. The chains 6,7 and 8 may be made from a suitable wear-resistant metal and preferably these chains will be made from a hard, yet tough, metal so that the chain will be sufficiently hard to 5 grip on ice or other similar hard surfaces to prevent skidding. At corresponding ends of the chains 6 and 7 connector elements 9 and 10 are provided, which connector elements may be of any approved form of construction. The connector elements 9 and 10 cooperate with the last links Hand 12 at the opposite ends of the chains 6 and 7 and thus when the connector elements 9 and 10 are joined with the links 11 and 12 and when said connector elements are secured after the disposition of the chains about the tire, the chains 6 and 7 are continuously extending and are disposed to circumferentially extend about the tire. The chain, as thus far described, is common in the art, but I have found, as above stated, that it is rather difiicult to install such chains on the tires. I therefore novide an additional. connector elem t and I arrange this additional connector element in the chain 7 which is the chain intended to be disposed toward the outer side of the wheel when the anti-skid chain is arranged thereon. This additional connector element, indicated by 13, is disposed substantially in diametrical opposition to the connector element 10 in the chain 7 but the connector 13 need not be disposed in strict diametrical opposition, as I have found that satisfactory results can be attained if the connector 13 is positioned not less-than from the connector 10 nor more than 270 from said connector when the chain 7 is arranged in circumferential position on a tire. The connector element 13 supplants a few links in the chain 7 and one end of the connector 13 i permanently connected to the link 14 in t e chain 7 whereas the opposite end of the link is arranged for detachable connection with the link 15 in the chain 7. The connector 13 includes a main body portion 16, and the link 14 is connected to this main body portion at one endthereof, while Y I? an arm 17 is pivotally connected. at 18 to the a other end of the'main body portion. A pro- '-tuberance 19 is provided on the main bod portion 16 and cooperates with a 'eldab e latch portion 20 at the outer end the arm 8 17 sothat when the arm 17 is arranged to extend over the main body portion 16, in substantially parallel relation therewith,the yieldable portion 20 will enga e the protuberance 119 and prevent disp acement of m the arm 17. In the main body portion 16, adjacent the pivotal connection 18 there is a recess 21 and on the arm 17 there is a hook portion 22, and when the arm 17 is ,arranged in the parallel relation, above referred to, the link 15 is disposed in the hook portion 22 and the recess 21 and is held 7 from displacement by the arm 17. A shoulder 23 is provided on the arm 17 adjacent the yieldable portion 20, theutility of which will be made apparent presently. In the preferred use of my invention the connector 10 in the chain 7 is permanently arranged in securing position, this connector being provided to afford an adjustment in order 25 that said connector may be joined to a link farther alon the chain than the link 12, it

also being t e intention to similarl join the connecting element 9 to a link arther along the chain 6 than the link 11, this adjustment being-provided to insure a neat fitof the chain on the tire. 1 However, after the proper adjustment has been ascertained the connector 10 is, as above stated, arranged in closed position and, if desired, suitable.

as means may be provided for securely fastening the connector 10 so as to prevent opening thereof; While the provision of the connector 10 is advanta eous, it will be apparent from the followin description that this connector might be e iminated and the connectors 9 and 13 might be the only ones provided, as such an arrangement would permit satisfactory use of my device. Inasmuch as the'connectors 9 and 10 are arranged in similar positions in the chains 6 and 7 and as the connector 13is arranged in substantially diametrical opposition to the connector 10 and as the connector 10 is permanently connected it is manifest that 50 separable connections are provided in the chains 6 and 7 and that these separable connections are arranged in diametrical opposition.

In installing the anti-skid chain on a tire, such as that indicated by 24, the chain is disposed behindthe tire with the porton of the chain adjacent the connector 13 resting on the surface supporting the tire 24 in order that said tire ma be moved rearwardl and stopped ina position in alignment wit the connector 13. After this has been done the chain is lifted around the tire 24 and is disposed in a position substantially similar to that'shown in Fig. 2 and the connector 9 is closed while the chain 6 is arranged substanthis is 0 early shown in Fig. -3 The wheel 26 carrying the tire 24 is then turned to dispose the connector 13 in a position slightly remote from the lower portion of the tire, as shown in Fig. 4, and the arm is pivoted into substantially parallel relation with the bod portion 16, said arm being of sufiicient lengt to provide leverage to facilitate this movement, and when the yieldable portion 20 engages the protuberance 19- displacement of the arm 17 will be prevented and the antiskid chain will be securely fastened on the tire 24.

When'it is desired to remove the anti-skid chain from'the tire 24, the wheel 26 will be arranged substantially in the position shown in Fig. 4, after which the connector 13 may be unlatched and then the chain may be moved sufliciently to afford access to the connector 9 which will be unlatchedand after this the chain may be readily removed from the tire 24.

It'is manifest that by providing the additional connector in the outwardly disposed chain in a circumferential position not less than 90 away from the connector .in the inwardly dis osed chain and not more than 270 from this connector, expeditious installation and removal of the anti-skid chain on a tire may be brought about- Further, by providing a connector embod ing'a pivotal arm of a length to provide su cient levera e to facilitate tightening of the chain the foregoing arrangement is reatly expedited.

While I have illustrate and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and Itherefore do not WlSh to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such purview of the following claim.

I claim:

An anti-skid chain comprising two circumferential chains of substantially equal len h and a plurality of cross chains exten ed therebetween, connector elements at correspondmg points in said chains and another connector element in one of said side chains s aced not less than one-fourth the length of" t e chains and not more than three-fourths the length of the chains from the first-mentioned connecting elements in said chains,

' said last-named eonnecting element oomprisinga main body portion, ally mounted at one end portion and includin which an end of sai chain may be fitted when said arm is moved awa from said of said main body main body portion, said main ody portion an arm pivota hook portion into parallel relation with said main 

